All throughout the class I could feel Walter's eyes burning into me as I stubbornly kept my gaze to the front of the class still fighting down the flush that was creeping up on my cheeks, why exactly was he so fixated on me? I wasn't anything special everyone knew that so...why? Unlike the usual days this class passed by at the speed of a sleepy snail, when it finally did end however I practically bolted out of the room only pausing to grab my things. It's could have been my imagination but I thought that I had heard a low smooth chuckle come from the area Walter was seated in, this sound whether imaginary or not it made my cheeks burn more as I swiftly went to my next class breathing a sigh of relief when I made my way to the very back seat.
I dropped my head to my desk trying to calm my racing heart when the sound of the door opening sounded through the silent atmosphere, burying my head deeper into the comforting darkness of my folded arms I completely missed the person I had been running from before sitting next to me. "What a coincidence..." I stiffened in horror not daring to raise my head to look at Walter who I was sure was smirking at me that annoying and just a little bit charming look of his.
Burying my head even more in my arms I attempted to block out Walter's presence with the thick dull drone of the teachers voice. My attempts were at least a little successful as the world faded away around me, I sank into darkness my body relaxing as I drifted off.
A tangible darkness clouded my mind as I waded through it, it clung to me trying to drag me back and hold me in place. I struggled and pushed against it despite the writhing grip that it had on me, inch by inch minute by minute I managed to break free of it. The darkness shattered around me sending me into the blinding light.
A startled gasp left me as I bolted awake at the same moment a thick yard stick connected with my desk "Mr. Tash if it isn't too much trouble please try to refrain from falling asleep in my class." Came the snide voice of the teacher as he glared down at me his mud brown hooded eyes filled with contempt. "Yes sir.." I managed out hoping that my tone didn't give away how startled I was. However a concerned look with a hint of pride from Walter told me otherwise "Yes just don't do it again." The teacher grunted before returning to the front of the class. The students snickered at me their whispering voices filling the room "Are you ok?" Came Walter's smooth voice the softness of it caused me to relax a rare hint of a smile forming on my lips "I'm fine..don't worry." I much more calm told him. He gave me a simple his gaze lingering slightly on my small smile before turning back to the teacher.
The end bell sounded through the hallways and classrooms, the students hurriedly rushed out into the halls they all knew what would happen if they were late. I too rushed to my next class a breath of relief leaving me, it was after all my best class and the only one that I didn't have an average grade in. Art. Sitting in the desk next to the window I actually smiled, feeling soothed by the relaxed and quiet atmosphere of the class.
This class and the next few passed quickly with no other sight of Walter for which I was a little grateful. The lunch bell shrieked and I stood up along with many other students, I couldn't afford school lunches so I'd go home to eat. I pulled my jacket more around me as I started my way back home, the temperature had dropped so dramatically that my breath was a white mist as I steadily breathed out.
I continued on my way but something in the back of my mind made the hairs on the back of my neck stand strait. Someone was following me I could hear the off pattern footsteps behind me. The very sound sent chills up my spine making me increase my pace to a quick jog, I knew that me and my mum were the only ones to live around here so the fact that somebody was trailing behind me didn't seem that far off. Suddenly I quickly turned right disappearing from view before looping around and coming a ways behind my follower.
'What was he doing here?' I thought to myself as I saw the figure of my new classmate Walter walking down the sidewalk in the direction I had been heading. Without thinking I came up beside him and asked "What are you doing? Nobody but me lives around these parts." Acting as if my sudden appearance hadn't startled him Walter calmly replied "I just moved in next to the red brick house not too far from here." I twitched in surprise before gritting my teeth, I lived in that house and as of now Walter was my new neighbor. I wasn't sure why the idea of that irked and excited me at the same time but I wouldn't dwell on it for too long. We both continued to walk until the sight of our houses came into view "This is an interesting town Nikolas...I think I'll like it very much." Just the way he said it as he unlocked his door was unsettling and ominous, it was like he was promising something dark that would only be revealed when he chose the correct time. However before I could ask him anything he slipped inside his house disappearing from my line of sight.